January 2024 – Football Flame

31Jan

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‘Confident Arsenal are right in Premier League title race’

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal celebrates his goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal FC at City Ground on January 30, 2024 in Nottingham, England. Arsenal's scenes of celebration at the final whistle at the City Ground were in the sharpest contrast to their last visit to Nottingham Forest, when defeat brought the curtain down on a season-long Premier League title quest.It was Forest celebrating back in May when Taiwo Awoniyi's goal not only assured their survival but completed Arsenal's misery as a late collapse made Manchester City champions.Here, on a cold night beside the Trent, Arsenal's title ambitions were not on the line but defeat was unthinkable, especially with Premier League leaders Liverpool the visitors to Emirates Stadium on Sunday.And...

30Jan

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LALIGA

Xavi confirms date for Ter Stegen’s return

Marc -Andre ter Stegen of FC Barcelona seen in action during UEFA Champions League 2023/2024 football match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Barcelona at Volksparkstadion (Hamburg). Final score; FC Shakhtar 1:0 FC Barcelona.Barcelona have struggled to repeat the same level of defensive solidity as they did last season, and one of the biggest reasons for the Blaugrana’s leaky defense has been the extended absence of Marc-André ter Stegen, who has missed almost three months after undergoing back surgery.The German returned to training last week, and now the date for his comeback has been confirmed. That’s according to manager Xavi Hernández, who was asked about Ter Stegen in a press conference on Tuesday and said that if everything goes according to plan, his number one goalkeeper wi...

30Jan

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SERIE A

De Rossi’s Roma revival continues with Salernitana win

Daniele De Rossi manager of AS Roma during the Serie A TIM match between US Salernitana and AS Roma - Serie A TIM at Stadio Arechi on January 29, 2024 in Salerno, Italy. Daniele De Rossi's dream start as Roma boss goes on, with his side earning a second successive win with a 2-1 triumph over Salernitana in Serie A.De Rossi took over from previous coach Jose Mourinho on January 16, winning his first game in charge against Verona four days later.His second victory came thanks to second-half goals from Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, with the capital club rising three places to fifth on the table.Dybala put the visitors ahead in the 51st minute from the penalty spot after Giulio Maggiore fouled Gianluca Mancini.Pellegrini doubled Roma's lead 15 minutes later when he took advan...

30Jan

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NEWS

Ivory Coast stun AFCON holders Senegal, Cape Verde into quarter-finals

Ivory Coast's midfielder #8 Franck Kessie (C) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 round of 16 football match between Senegal and Ivory Coast at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro on January 29, 2024.Hosts Ivory Coast stunned Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, knocking out the reigning champions on penalties in the last 16 to keep their hopes of winning the title on home soil alive. A week ago it looked as if the Ivorians were set for a humiliating group-stage exit from their own AFCON, but now they are into the quarter-finals after beating Senegal 5-4 on penalties following a tie that finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.The Elephants scraped into the knockout phase with the worst re...

30Jan

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LALIGA

Lewa hosts Barça lunch after Xavi exit decision

Barcelona players held a team lunch at Robert Lewandowski's house on Monday in the wake of coach Xavi Hernández's decision to leave the club at the end of the season.The lunch lasted for around two hours and was only attended by the players, with none of Xavi or his coaching staff present.Xavi, 44, made the surprise announcement that he will depart in the summer after Saturday's 5-3 loss to Villarreal, which left Barça 11 points behind LaLiga leaders Girona.It came on the back of elimination from the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey this month, which further increased the pressure on Xavi.Xavi -- who replaced Ronald Koeman at the end of 2021 -- had not told the players of his decision before making it official, with the majority of them learning of the news via social media and mes...

29Jan

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Van Dijk unsure over Liverpool future post-Klopp

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Norwich City at Anfield on January 28, 2024 in Liverpool, England.Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he is unsure if he will be part of the post-Jurgen Klopp era at the club.Klopp has surprisingly announced that he will leave the Reds at the end of the season.Van Dijk was signed by the German from Southampton for £75m in January 2018 and the 32-year-old defender's contract at the club runs out in summer 2025.Asked whether he saw himself being part of the next era, Van Dijk said: "That's a big question. I don't know."Liverpool assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, as well as elite development coach Vitor Matos, will also leave ...

29Jan

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LALIGA

Roberto expected to follow Xavi out of Barca

Sergi Roberto of FC Barcelona in action during the Copa del Rey Round of 16 match between Unionistas and FC Barcelona at Campo de Futbol Reina Sofia on January 18, 2024 in Salamanca, Spain. Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto is expected to follow manager Xavi out of the club at the end of the season.Roberto is into the final year of his current contract at the club, and Xavi has said publicly he wants Barcelona to renew his existing deal.Yet Diario AS reckon the club have “no intention” of renewing Roberto’s contract, meaning he is expected to leave on a free transfer.Roberto has also played down talk of an exit - saying in December he has Xavi’s “confidence” - but the coach’s decision to leave is likely to spell bad news for the veteran.The captain has previously revealed he would...

29Jan

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Ligue 1

PSG blow two-goal advantage in home draw with Brest

Marco ASENSIO (R) of Paris Saint - Germain in action during the French Ligue 1 (L1) soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France on January 28, 2024.Paris Saint-Germain blew a two-goal advantage and saw their French league lead over Nice reduced to six points after a 2-2 draw with Brest.PSG led 2-0 at the break on Monday (AEDT) but an own goal and an equaliser 10 minutes from the end exposed ongoing difficulties at the back when under pressure.Luis Enrique is the latest PSG coach to be confronted with a problem with composure that resurfaces every season, especially when star striker Kylian Mbappe fails to paper over the cracks with his scoring.Mbappe could not add to his league-leading 19 goals and was show...

28Jan

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NEWS

Liverpool overpower Norwich to make FA Cup last 16

Darwin Nunez of Liverpool scores his side's second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Norwich City at Anfield on January 28, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Liverpool reached the FA Cup fifth round with an entertaining victory over Norwich in their first game since manager Jurgen Klopp announced he will leave at the end of the season.Klopp, who revealed his impending departure on Friday, was given a rousing reception by the home supporters before kick-off, and his team wasted little time in moving through the gears against the Championship play-off hopefuls.Darwin Nunez had already struck the post with a magnificent curling drive by the time Curtis Jones nodded the hosts in front from full debutant James McConnell's cross.The Canaries equalised ...

28Jan

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NEWS

Nigeria beat Cameroon in last 16 with Lookman double

Victor James Osimhen of Nigeria and Oumar Gonzalez of Cameroon battle for the ball during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 match between Nigeria and Cameroon at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on January 27, 2024 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Nigeria reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after Ademola Lookman scored twice to beat a disappointing Cameroon 2-0 in the last 16 in Abidjan.The Atalanta forward opened the scoring nine minutes before the break after Victor Osimhen forced Oumar Gonzalez into a mistake and then teed up Lookman to fire past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who was preferred to Andre Onana.Former England Under-21s forward Lookman sealed the win in the 90th minute after one of the game's best moves, volleying home Calvin Bass...